Luong Hoang Thai, head of the Multilateral Trade Policy Division at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, emphasised that in many developing economies, including Vietnam, green logistics is still a relatively new concept. Understanding the essence and role of green logistics is crucial for promoting comprehensive and sustainable growth.

He said that greening logistics is not only a responsibility but also helps businesses enhance competitiveness, improve brand image, and strive for more sustainable and comprehensive development.

Rebecca Orme, Southeast Asia legal director at Fedex, stressed the need for proactive collaboration among countries and businesses to build a green logistics ecosystem, not only within national borders but also regionally and globally.

“To promote green logistics for comprehensive and sustainable growth, countries need to facilitate trade, reduce cross-border transportation costs, and thereby promote export growth. Along with this, countries also need to adopt technology, automate customs procedures, and implement digital solutions in the process of greening the logistics industry,” said Orme.

Speaking at the seminar, Ngo Khac Le, deputy secretary-general of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association, emphasised that in the current context, if businesses do not quickly meet the criteria for greening the logistics industry, they will face many difficulties in the future and gradually be phased out of domestic and global business and trade activities.

“The awareness and understanding of businesses, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises, about greening the logistics industry are still limited. Green transformation is a trend and a mandatory requirement for every business. Choosing appropriate solutions and approaches for each business sector requires financial resources, but poses challenges in terms of skills and capacity, especially regarding human resources, IT, and infrastructure,” Le said.